Three points to be clear about:

1) Anyone who paying attention knows that the offshore drilling mantra is one part of a comprehensive plan including alternative sources of energy and fuel efficiency. This was ignored in the editorial.

2) Offshore wind costs much more than land-based facilities. Laying the infrastructure to bring the power ashore is expensive. Sea water corrodes. This is why several European offshore wind projects were canceled in spite of Europe's hefty wind subsidies.

3) Energy does not equal fuel. Wind does not fill gas tanks. Replacing gasoline with wind (or nuclear power for that matter) will need massive changes to our energy and transportation infrastructures. This will take a long time and lots of money.

We should pilot test strategies with long-term promise first before making heavy commitments. And we should prioritize strategies that can increase fuel supplies without overhauling existing infrastructure. Drilling can be relied on as a stopgap until proven alternatives are on the table. This is the McCain plan.